Fake RTSA officers extorting money from public

THE Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has unearthed a scam in which some unscrupulous people masquerading as traffic officers are mounting check-points and charging traffic offenders huge sums of money.
RTSA chief executive officer Zidane Soko told the Daily Nation that some people impersonating RTSA officials were mounting road blocks where they were charging unsuspecting drivers of various road traffic offences.
Mr. Soko warned that the agency would soon bring to book people behind the scam and expose them before prosecution takes place.
” I am warning people behind this scam to stop forthwith because the long arm of the law will soon catch up with them.
You cannot hide at all because your transgressions are too big for you to hide.
They are in public domain. I also want to warn all those impersonating RTSA officers and forging government documents such as receipts and other government documents that they will be arrested and prosecuted if found,” Mr. Soko warned.

Mr. Soko said the agency had arrested a number of people in connection with different allegations starting ranging from impersonation and forging of government documents.
“The warning comes because some people who have been arrested and charged for impersonating RTSA officers and for forging government documents such as drivers linceses, Road Tax, Toll fees and certificates of fitness among others,” said Mr. Soko.
He explained that over the week, two Lusaka residents were arrested for impersonating RTSA officials and would appear in the Lusaka fast track court.
He also said Robin Chishimba was arrested for the offence of impersonating RTSA officials when he solicited for k1500 as a fine from a Lusaka motorist after producing a fake identify card under the pretext that he was a RTSA officer when not.
Mr. Soko also said others arrested and convicted in Lusaka were Silvester Banda who the courts have since sentenced to nine months simple imprisonment.
He said RTSA on the Copperbelt had arrested Jeamy Noah Nshimbi for using fake driving licences and would appear in court this week.
Mr Soko also said that RTSA was investigating impounded Tanzanian trucks with fake toll fee documents.